2013 Chinon “La Croix Boissée”

Bernard Baudry, now joined by his son Matthieu, is a master of terroir-driven winemaking in the Loire Valley. Cabernet Franc is the common denominator here, but the Baudry vineyards span a range of soil types—sand, gravel, clay, limestone, chalk—yielding fascinatingly diverse expressions of the same grape. La Croix Boissée is among the domaine’s deepest, most complex, and longest-aging reds: sourced from a south-facing slope of clay over white tuffeau limestone, this cuvée demonstrates the grandeur and finesse Cabernet Franc is capable of achieving in the right site. Aged for two years in oak and bottled unfiltered, this high-caliber red could humiliate many a Bordeaux sold for ten times the price. Its trademark is a rich aroma of ripe black fruits, a mouthwatering acidity, and dense, chalky tannins that provide a clean, pure, refreshing finish. An excellent cellar candidate if you have ten or twenty years to spare, this Chinon can also be enjoyed today with rustic, earthy cuisine.

About The Producer

Bernard Baudry

Bernard Baudry is unquestionably one of Chinon’s most outstanding producers. Not only does he have the talent to make delicious and consistent wines, vintage to vintage, but he is also fortunate to have vineyard land that showcases the varied soil types of the appellation. After completing his viticultural studies in Beaune, Bernard returned to the Loire Valley and purchased his first two hectares of land in Cravant-les-Coteaux, a village from which almost half of the production of A.O.C. Chinon is sourced. Over the years, the domaine has grown to 25 hectares and Bernard’s son, Matthieu, has joined the family domaine. The Baudrys are staunch traditionalists, and you would have a hard time finding a Chinon more classic than theirs.

About Loire

The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?

Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.

Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.

Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.

Kermit once said...

When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:

1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.

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Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant is an Importer and Retailer of fine French and Italian wine.
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